SWTOR smuggler Fanfiction

Old Friend

This is my take on Nova's reaction to chapter 13's mission to recruit Bowdarr, her old wookie friend. In truth, it centers around the reunion conversation they have and not the whole mission. I decided to just have Bowdarr's dialog be basic instead of wookie, but he is actually speaking wookie. It would just get annoying having to put wookie dialogue and translating it every line.
_______________________________________

I sighed. Hylo Viz, head of underworld logistics, has sent me on another recruitment mission to Zakuul. I know it's necessary; we need as many people as we can get. It still doesn't make me feel safe to be walking onto the planet that's been told that i'm a crazed terrorist bent on destroying their falsely perfect lives.

I have Arcann to thank for that.

I was supposed to meet a wookie whom supposedly contacted hylo via holo. He was an undercover seasoned warrior running an underground slave freeing operation. A noble cause. From her description, this wookie sounded exactly like someone I would want in my alliance: Goodhearted, hard-working, and a dedicated fighter. That's why I was meeting up with him at his bar. Hylo told me a phrase that I was to say to him in order for him to know whom he is talking to when I arrive.

But as I walked up to the counter and the wookie bartender turned around, I knew that he would have no problem with knowing who I am.

It was Bowdarr. I could hardly breath through the relief that flooded through me. It gave me strength, seeing his face. I've been clinging to my past, longing for a link to it. The dead part of me that didn't believe my crew had survived fled from hope. Because if Bowdarr survived then so did the rest of the crew.

Because if Bowdarr survived then so did he.

Smiling, I gently coughed to get Bowdarr's attention, and watched as he turned around and began to speak.

"Welco... It's you!" Bowdarr roared in delight. The joy on his face was evident. Thinking back, I don't think I'd ever seen a wookie smile that big before.

I grinned. "Hey Bowie. Long time no see, huh?"

And thus we struck up a conversation just like the old days. We talked about my disappearance, how he'd been holding up, and how he got to be the owner of a bar. Bowdarr stated that he wanted to live a simpler life for himself after the horror of living as a slave for so long.

I smiled. I knew the feeling. "I get what you're saying, Bowie. I was planning on moving onto a ranch with my farmboy before this nonsense started" I felt my heart twist with regret as I remembered what could have been.

At the mention of Corso, Bowdarr's eye's clouded with a memory that's long been buried. "Ahh, Corso. He wept like no warrior would ever want to be seen. My shoulder was damp for many months. Such was his care for you."

I stiffened at the news and wiped away the water blurring the look of pity in Bowdarr's eyes. It bathed me in a confusing mixture of happiness and remorse. To know I've caused Corso pain is committing the biggest sin I can think of. I never want him hurt; he deserves joy and warmth after the hardships he's had in his life. But the fact that he cared about me enough to cry not only a little, but for months, made me happier than I could describe. It means he cares for me. It means he still loves me. That alone is enough to give me a little more hope.

"Captain? Are you ok?" Bowdarr asked, concerned. I must have zoned out.

I blinked back the tears until Bowdarr's face was clear again. I gave a small smile and looked up at him.

"Yeah, Bowie" I said. "I'm fine."

Because he cared enough to miss me.